Funding for Our Lady of Lebanon, St Charbel, St Joseph’s Maronites and St Ioannis Greek Orthodox communities

ScoMo is throwing more than $20 million towards Sydney’s Maronite and Orthodox communities for their aged care centres, public halls and museums if he is re-elected.

The Liberals have vowed $15.5 million for three major projects for the Maronite parishes at Our Lady of Lebanon at Harris Park, St Charbel’s at Punchbowl and St Joseph’s at Croydon.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has directed a chunk of the funding —$12.5 million — towards upgrades for OLOL’s aged care and wellness centre.

If re-elected funds will also provide residents with user-friendly access to the cathedral, community cafe, childcare centre and school.

At Punchbowl, the funding would improve the St Charbel aged care centre and the creation of the Maronite Heritage Centre.

At St Joseph’s Croydon Park, $3 million will go to building a community and youth centre.

OLOL falls under the marginal seat of Parramatta while St Joseph’s is in Reid, which is in danger of shifting to Labor control.

Parramatta Liberal candidate Maria Kovacic, who was campaigning with Mr Morrison at Granville and North Parramatta this week, has welcomed the funding.

“The Maronite community has a strong presence in our local community and the Morrison Government is supporting them to actively preserve and promote their culture and faith,” Ms Kovacic said.

“This is a substantial funding announcement and I know it will go a long way in helping the Maronites with social and community engagement.”

Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral at Harris Park will receive more than $12 million funding if the Morrison Government is re-elected.

Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny are no strangers to OLOL at Harris Park having forged a friendship with the Abdallah family, who worship there, following the deaths of their three children and cousin at Oatlands two years ago.

The funding will not just go towards worshippers from the Maronite faith.

The Morrison Government has vowed to allocate $7.5 million to upgrade and convert the building at Greek Orthodox Parish Community of St Ioannis Parramatta to make it more sustainable.

Renovations will expand the parish’s capacity for services and support its plan to create a museum and cultural centre in honour of First Nations people, Australia’s first Greek Australian, Antonis Manolis (who arrived on the Norfolk in 1829) and migrants from all backgrounds.

The Let’s Go Greek Festival is held annually at the St Ioannis Church in Parramatta. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu)

The upgrades would see the community hall converted into multi-purpose rooms so it would be open to the public, removing the ageing roof and replacing it with light coloured Colorbond panels, replacing the ageing airconditioning system and building a common area.

“It is vital that our Greek community, one of the largest Greek communities in western Sydney, has the opportunity to actively preserve, promote and support their identity, heritage and culture, which is why the Morrison Government is committing to this substantial investment,’’ Ms Kovacic said.

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